We interrupt this program...

No guesses, huh? In case you missed my last post, I mentioned that I had some different crafty stuff to share. It's always refreshing and fun to learn something new and the beginning of the year is usually when I tend to give things a try. Last year, I experimented with gupit-gupit and also rhinestone setting (which I don't think I ever shared here). This year is no exception and my family got me some fun crafty tools for Christmas. So I've been dabbling.... learning and experimenting as I get the chance. So with that, we interrupt this program to bring you some felting fun!
This past fall I discovered the world of Needlefelting. There's a whole story as to how needlefelting grabbed my attention, but I'm gonna try to keep this brief-ish for ya. I've always thought felt was a fun material to work with since it doesn't fray when cut. My family got me a few things that I needed to get started. My first project was... well, let's just say I'm not gonna post that one. Then I went to CHA and made this fun felted flower at a make & take by Stef - who is the author of "Sweater Surgery". I didn't pay much attention to the flower die we used in the Big Shot and now of course I reaaaally want it. So any Sizzix experts out there - do you know what die this is? I'm guessing it isn't released yet because I can't seem to find anything quite like it. On Stef's blog, she called it the "triple flower die cut".... I've found a few dies that are close, but they cut a hole in the center of the flower layers and these don't have holes.

So that exposed me to another type of felting - using old wool sweaters and turning them into felt by washing them in hot water so they felt and shrink! How cool to have lots of wonderful wool felt in so many colors just waiting to be repurposed from thrift store sweaters! Here are a few more things I've made - using a few different felting techniques - felted wool sweaters, needlefelting, and also wet-felting.
These are wet-felted and needlefelted balls - which I learned about from the gal on the Crunchy Parent blog:

Then I discovered Betz White's book "Warm Fuzzies" and made a few of the projects from her book. Felted sweater cupcake pincushion:

I took that a step further and decided to make a short version of the cupcake - so it would be a cinnamon roll! (The dark brown layer is cashmere - lovely but sooo hard to make the first cut!)

This sweet birdie - a pattern also from Betz's book:

And of course I *had* to incorporate the felt with some stamping, so last but not least - here is a card too! The heart was made from an old red wool sweater which I washed in hot water so it would felt (if you decide to try this, be sure to put the sweater in an old pillowcase so you don't get as much fuzz in your washer). Then I cut it with a Cuttlebug heart die (yes, you can cut felt with your Cuttlebug!)

Whew - thanks for hanging in here with me to the end of this loooong post! Hope you found this entertaining! Now back to our regularly scheduled programming - LOL! Although, I'll admit - working with wool felt is a bit addicting! Anyone else done any felting? I'd love to know if you've tried any of this too or have any tips to share. Oh and be sure to let me know if you have any info about that Sizzix die cut - thanks so much!
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Knit Happens card details: Images and red twinkle sticker by A Muse. Kraft and natural cardstock, Adirondack Espresso ink, Marvy yellow oval punch, Cuttlebug heart die, red wool thrift store sweater - felted, glue dot, liquid applique, Copic markers in shadow pink and raw silk.

Felting resource links:
Sweater Surgery book by Stefanie Girard
Sweater Surgery blog
Crunchy Parent - video tutorial for felted wool balls
Warm Fuzzies book by Betz White
Betz White's website
Sweet Needle Felts by Jenn Docherty
Little Felted Animals by Marie-Noelle Horvath